Formula 1 driver Oscar Piastri has stated he has no interest in competing in the Indy 500, despite holding respect for the IndyCar series. The Australian driver cited safety concerns related to the speeds and close walls on oval tracks as primary reasons.
Before a reporter finished asking about a potential future entry into the event, Piastri quickly responded, "Not for me."
Piastri currently races for McLaren in Formula 1. He leads the series points standings ahead of his team mate Lando Norris and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen.
He expressed admiration for those who compete in IndyCar events, including the 500-mile race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Also, those guys are crazy," Piastri said. "I think, for me, the speeds ... the walls being so close, you've got to put a lot of trust in the people around you."
Piastri explained the physical impact difference between crashes in the two series. "Crashing an F1 car at the speeds we go hurts," he said. "Add another 20 to 30 mph ... they're going basically 20 mph quicker as an average speed than our top speed. It's not a matter of it's going to hurt, it's a matter of how much it's going to hurt."
His focus remains on his Formula 1 career. Piastri is in his third season with McLaren and finished fourth in the driver's championship last year.
He has achieved success early in the current season with multiple wins. He looks ahead to upcoming races, including the Miami Grand Prix.
Piastri stated his career ambition has always been in Formula 1. Past F1 drivers like Fernando Alonso, Marcus Ericsson, and Alexander Rossi have competed in the Indy 500.
Piastri appears content to observe the Indianapolis race from afar.
"Firstly, my kind of dream and goal has always been to race in F1, so I'm very happy with where I am," Piastri said. "... I'm very happy with my F1 car, with my F1 circuits, and I'm very happy to be watching the Indy 500."
